Community Answers

Answer: Finding the right representation in the form of a strong, smart agent and/or manager can be difficult enough – but when faced with having to move on, some actors are paralyzed by the fear of retribution, damage to their reputation and being left without any representation at all. Just be professional and succinct, and execute your legal responsibilities with a kind and business like approach.

Parting ways with your representation is tough, but it’s the rare actor that never has to do it. The keys are treating this situation as carefully and as businesslike as you treated the hiring of your representation. If you’ve exhausted every possibility that a change in representation wouldn’t fix, then move forward. But do ask yourself: are you sure it’s not working? Or are you simply looking for something, anything to do to change the slump you’re in, including throwing your agent or manager under the bus? Make sure of your answers, and once you’ve arrived at your conclusion, follow these steps.

Double check your assumptions. I hear actors often say “My agent just isn’t getting me out enough.” or “My manager hasn’t gotten me in on anything in months.” I urge you to reconsider that language. Remember, your representation only makes money when you book paid acting jobs. For them to deliberately ignore you as a client is highly unlikely. Make sure that every cylinder of your marketing tool kit (headshots, resume, reel, workshop attendance, your own pursuit of work) is firing well before deciding it’s your agent or manager’s fault you’re not getting called in for auditions.

Each case is different. The relationship you currently have with your representation should be taken into account when you’re make a move to sever that relationship. If you haven’t heard from your rep in months, and you haven’t been out on an audition, it’s probably time to consider a regime change, and you don’t have to worry much about salvaging a non-existent relationship. On the other hand if you’ve enjoyed a great working relationship but you’re not getting any work (and you’re sure it’s entirely due to your representation’s lack of effort, not yours), then it will be a bit trickier not to leave anyone without hurt feelings.

Prepare a letter. When you’ve reached the point where you need to break ties with your current acting representation, write a letter, simple and direct, that informs your agent or manager that you appreciate all of their past efforts, but that you feel it’s time to move on. Let them know the date that you’ll be ending the relationship, and that you’re happy to stop by and pick up any extra headshots and resumes they have still in their files. Also, assure them that while you expect them to send along any residuals that come to their office, you’ll watch carefully for checks that are commissionable in your mailbox as well. Don’t get emotional – a simple thank you and good luck will do. Send it certified or drop it off in person.

Don’t burn bridges. One thing is for certain in the world of acting: you never know what the future holds, and you never know with whom you may someday work – again. Agents and managers often move into other roles in the production community, often as producers and executive producers. The last thing you want to do is to satisfy a momentary need to blast someone, when stepping back, dealing in facts and simply stating that your business relationship needs to come to an end is all you really need to do. That approach may offer an open door to future pleasant dealings, even a better situation than in the past.

Maintain your composure. Like any breakup, there’s no getting around the emotional aspect of severing ties with your representation, with whom you may have a personal relationship as well. Keep business and your personal life separate, be simple and direct in all your communications without coming off as cold or cruel, and be prepared for the fact that some reps will not want to have anything to do with you and will look at your actions as misguided mistakes.

Monitor jobs you’ve booked while represented. Even though you’re leaving, you’re not entirely severed from the relationship with a former agent or manager if there are still projects you’ve worked that continue to pay you. Projects that you’ve been booked on are commissionable to the agent/manager that closed the deal for you at the time of the booking, and ongoing residuals are a part of that relationship. Be very careful to keep track of your financial responsibility to that former agent or manager and pay them promptly.

Keep your new management in the loop. If you’re leaving one agent or manager for another, keep the new representative aware what you’re doing to finish up the relationship with the last. It sets a great example for them to see how you handle adversity, and it shows them you’re aware of your business responsibilities in all aspects of your career. Respect for your actions is part of a healthy relationship with your new team.

Don’t make the same mistake twice. Leaving the frying pan of one agent or manager with whom you have a rocky relationship should make you pause before jumping into the fire of another dysfunctional representation arrangement. If you’re not happy with a boutique manager with a flamboyant ego-driven style, be careful about signing with a similar rep. During the interview process with your new management candidates, make that very destructive aspect of your last relationship an important part of your questions and observation.

Some actors, although rare, have had the same representation their whole careers, most notably, Jack Nicholson and Tom Cruise. In both cases, their management grew right along side the actor – as Jack and Tom’s acting careers soared, their management kept up pace and knew how to handle bigger and bigger deals. You may not be so lucky, and having to change representation may be something you face. Hopefully, you’re more confident and prepared should that day come.

Boy, I hope to one day get to the point where I can fire an agent (and I promise to be very classy when doing so). Maybe you should write one about hiring agents? How established do you need to be to get a good agent?

I think the key is you have to find an agent who takes an interest in you and wants to work for you. There are far too many agents out there who just tell you to post your pics on a bunch of worthless websites that agents and casting directors never use. The functions of agents these days have changed, they are not the real go-getters they use to be. They expect actors to do all the work, and expect casting directors to “find” their clients. It seems to me that they do little now beyond collecting their 10%. I live in LA, and I would say maybe 20% of the talent agencies in this town are actually worth being a part of.

I’ve left my old agency (which I was with for years) and joined a new one. It’s been 3 months now since I joined the new agency and they are not as proactive or progressive as my previous agency. Obviously now I feel like I’ve made the biggest mistake of my life. When should I leave my new agent without burning the bridge with the new agency?

That may not be the right question to be asking – you might want to examine why the new agency was attractive to you, and why you left the old agency – what weren’t they doing that you needed? You might want to go back to the old agency, but I’d have a frank conversation about your expectations with the current agency. You might not be a good fit, but with some adjustments on both sides, you might thrive. Three months is not a long time, but I can understand the frustration of the change in effectiveness. I’d also examine the things I have control over: my tools (headshots, resume, technique), my skills and my networking. Are you booking at the same or higher ratio when you do get called in? There’s a lot to think about besides jumping ship. Burning bridges can happen at any time you choose to leave – after a short or long period, and depending upon how you handle the situation.

We had a wonderful relationship with my daughter’s manager. (She’s 9 years old) Until now. She goes on tons of auditions and has booked quite a few small jobs. Recently she booked a national sag voice over. She recorded in March, and the Agent involved has cut her 3 checks. We have yet to receive any payment from her manager. The recording was in March. The first check was cut a few days later. It is now June and it wasn’t until we asked her manager what was going on, because we know that SAG has rules about the timing of payments that they said they were able to track it down and would send it. We contacted the Agent to find out how many checks had been issued and when. They gave us the dates and said there were 3 checks so far with more to come. I can not understand what her manager was doing. Were they just holding the money in an account to collect the interest? Did/Do they plan on stealing the money outright?
This is by far the biggest job my child has booked and we were hoping to use some of the money to help her pay for more acting classes. Not to mention put in her trust account. We plan on parting ways with this manager, but want to insure that my daughter gets the money she earned.
Any advice?

I’m really lost at what to do about something, I began working with the manager for my daughter about four months ago, she sent us to a photographer to get proper head shots – and after that we have not had any help, she had an audition, which I had already found on Facebook and had already submited my daughter submit to, before we even got the email from the manager,she does not send her out on auditions and although I cannot see the backside of the story she’s literally been no help to my daughter– so fast-forward four months later and today daughter signed with a SAG agent … she ( The manager )does not send her out on auditions and although I cannot see the backside of the story she’s literally been no help to you my daughters, so fast-forward four months later
she is been absolutely no help to us in the last four months, and yet all of the work that my daughter has been doing, that I have found her myself…., she is been absolutely no help to us in the last four months,I have found for her we have been paying the manager commission – I just feel like I’m throwing away my money to somebody who’s not interested in helping us…I mean – it has been four months and she has not gotten my daughter one audition, do you think I have the grounds to just say we’re not going to have a manager will just stick with the agent and try this for now, and how do I do that in such a way that I’m not burning bridges I mean – it has been four months and she is not gotten my daughter one audition, do you think I have the grounds to just say we’re not going to have a manager will just stick with the agent and try this for now, and how do I do that in such a way that I’m not burning bridges

Sounds like it’s time to move on. Four months is a reasonable period of time for you to have seen some action from this manager, or at least feedback on why they aren’t calling your daughter in. I would go it alone with your agent, and make sure that relationship is fruitful.

I have been with my manager for 2 years now. Love him, he supposedly works very hard for me and pitches me a lot, submits me a lot as well. Everyone says what a dedicated manager he is. Except he hasn’t gotten me one single audition in 2 years. Not one meeting with casting, nothing. I don’t doubt the hard work, but at one point is it time to let them go? Obviously the work they are putting in isn’t getting me anywhere. I have an agent and they send me out regularly, but I have no idea why I should keep my manager around at this point. He says “this isn’t a fast career” and “things don’t happen overnight” and I know that, but not even one audition in 2 years?? Please help!

I’ve been with my agency for about 7 years now. They are a boutique kind of mid level agency. I think they are great but I feel like I’ve hit a ceiling with them professionally and my contract is up in 2 weeks. They want to resign me for 3 more years. When Pilot Season comes around I don’t get many auditions. I’m supposed to have a meeting next with a bigger well known agency. I want to take my career to the next level but I’m a little scared about the unknown if I do leave my old agency. But I’m feeling the pull to just do something different. It weighs on me because I’m a very loyal person and they signed me when no one else did.

David, your answer was full and to the point and I thank you. I’m dealing with this issue now. I’ve changed agencies/managers in the past and it really is easier to do once you’ve identified the pros and cons for making your choice. Write them down. Talk it out. If you are solid in your reasoning and truly committed to your growth and craft, it behooves you to step up to the plate and take action. Find your voice and use it for the good of everyone. The new agent who will be grateful to have you, the casting people you finally get to share your talent with, the sheer experience of auditioning and the pride and confidence you’ll feel in booking! (Not to mention the smile it puts on your parents faces when they see you on the screen!) Everyone benefits. Remaining quiet and timid out of fear of hurting someone’s feelings or making the wrong move isn’t a good reason to stand still and let so many other possibilities pass you by. And if it truly doesn’t work out, no worries. Again, make sure your reasoning is solid – pros and cons – be grateful for the lessons learned, the effort put forth on all sides and step one foot in front of the other and continue to move forward. You are the CEO of your own business. And that business is YOU. No one knows better what your company/business is experiencing, what it needs in order to shine, how to best promote its talents and passions other than YOU. Wishing you all the best in your decision making process!

We recently acquired a manager for our son x 4 months. Recently, our manager was able to get our son seen by an agent. We found out prior to seeing the agent, the manager booked another child to be seen by the same agent on the same day. We were very surprised because this was not discussed with us prior to the manager making arrangements. To make matters worse, the other child was not signed/contracted with our manager. Basically the manager was assisting this family pro bono to get an agent. We immediately contacted the manager requesting a separate appointment as this was not fair. The manager contacted the agent and the manager’s explanation to the potential agent was that a parent was having issues with the other parent. The manager contacted us informing us of the change in appointment, but that the child who is not signed with the management was booked first. We were very disappointed. As it turns out, the child was offered representation from the agent. We took our son to his appointment. We are now waiting to hear from the agent. Since we have signed with this manger, there has not been much movement other than getting head shots done. There has been no clear communication of what has been done. This is very frustrating. Should we keep this manger or seek other represention based on this recent experience? We appreciate your input.